International Architecture Awards 2012

The University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Ray and Dagmar Dolby Regeneration Medicine Building creates a rich environment for translational researchers to pursue new stem cell discoveries while simultaneously fostering collegial relationships within the broader Parnassus research community. The split-level open laboratory configuration highlights connectivity and flexibility and creates strategic clusters of activity and communication at the juncture between research and office levels.

The Regeneration Medicine Building facilitates the transition between the urban Parnassus campus and the wooded nature preserve of Mt. Sutro to the south with a design that embraces both contexts. The building – which on its south side rests against the steep slope of the mountain and borders a winding road, and on its north side is elevated by cantilevered steel beams – is smoothly blended into its environment by means of green roofs and roof terraces that extend the natural context of its surrounding woodlands. A combination of a space truss and seismic base isolation system allows the Regeneration Medicine Building to tread lightly on the steeply sloped site, minimizing site disruption and facilitating construction. A new pedestrian bridge smoothly integrates the new facility into the existing campus by connecting it to three nearby research and clinical buildings. The design gives the Regeneration Medicine Building a presence and identity on adjacent Saunders Court Downhill, knitting the building into a cohesive campus fabric while transforming a back-of-house site into part of the campus.

Four elevated segments step down a half-story, forming a long, gently curved, S-shaped building that naturally responds to the contours of Mount Sutro. Continuous circulation between all levels is provided via exterior ramps and stairs, which also take advantage of the site’s temperate climate and expansive views. The main floor of the building functions as one continuous laboratory, punctuated by three communal split-level transition areas which not only provide access to the exterior spaces but also encourage interaction between building occupants through hubs of activity such as break rooms, conference rooms and stairs. Interior glazing also maximizes visual connectivity between the lower labs and the upper offices.

Unifying four open laboratories into one contiguous space using split-levels promotes collaborative work experiences and efficiently accommodates changes in the sizes of research groups, as opposed to laboratories that are divided in smaller finite units. The laboratories are furnished with highly flexible casework systems equipped with quick-disconnect utilities that allow them to be rapidly reconfigured according to the needs of the research program. The ribbon of windows bordering the laboratories and the Principal Investigators’ offices allow daylight to reach deep within the floor plate and offer views of the woods of Mt. Sutro, fostering the sensation of an intellectual retreat from inside the building.